Skincare

Tiger Grass, not just for the Chinese New Year

Tiger Grass Extract, also known as Gotu Kola, is a herb used in traditional Chinese culture. One of its many uses is to support skin balance while soothing and comforting irritated skin. Legend has it that this name came from people observing tigers rolling in the herb, which they believed the tigers were doing to soothe irritation on their hide. Smart Kittys! Also referred to as the “herb of longevity,” gotu kola is a staple in Ayurvedic medicine. Practitioners claim the medicinal plant has the power to boost brainpower, heal skin issues, and promote liver and kidney health — and some studies

How using face masks can eliminate blackheads

I’m sure most of us have used a blackhead mask in the past especially as a teenager. But even if you’re well past your teen years (ummmm I’m raising my hand here), I know that blackheads can still rear their ugly heads. As a health and menopause coach, I chat with plenty of people who are experiencing acne well into their 30s, 40s, and beyond. And menopause is no certainty that you’ll escape the menace of blackheads or acne, I help lots of women that are going through menopause and having problems with breakouts as if they were a teen! What are Blackheads Blackheads are essentially clogged

Be a deodorant detective

Deodorant, do you know what’s in yours and the effects it has on your body. I touched on this as part of my Live on FaceBook on Monday - listen here if you'd like to know more or read on for more details. Really, it’s important to think about what you’re actually spraying under your arms every morning (and sometimes every evening too) in the name of smelling good? It might make you smell divine, but your supermarket antiperspirant might just have a dark side hiding behind that luscious scent. From parabens that are oestrogen mimickers to aluminium salts that block your pores, talc (potentially

How to be a skincare label reader

I popped into a high street store last week and picked up a moisturiser which was screaming healthy, natural, moisture balance to me. It looked lush but when I checked the ingredients in it I was horrified that even today, consumers are being hood winked by great marketing into buying brands that purport to be filled with natural, wholesome plant based ingredients like Shea butter, Coconut oil and Jojoba oil, when in fact the majority of the product is filled with toxic mineral oil and cheap bulk fillers. The natural ingredients were the last but 3rd ingredients in the list! So why should you

Beauty Basics - How to create a winter glow

As winter sets in our skin comes under more and more stress, cold weather, harsh chemicals, daily pollution and air conditioning or central heating, all play their part in how we look and the ageing process. So how can we help and what are the latest skincare innovations you need to keep abreast of? Never A Dull Moment Restoring a youthful glow is everyone’s priority but there’s no point soaking clogged pores or flaky skin in expensive serums, oils or creams, as they simply won’t be able to penetrate through the debris. Retrieve your skin’s radiance with a daily exfoliator. I love this

Retinol the secret to a glowing complexion

Are you in on this beauty secret? Retinol is still an under used ingredient for many of us and yet it’s the ingredient that can make the biggest difference to our skin. There are skincare ingredients and then there’s retinol. Wrinkle slayer extraordinaire and A-list anti-ager, it’s a superhero amongst skincare, and yet many of us are still confused about what exactly we’re supposed to do with it. It’s reputation for being irritating has put many off it, we’ve all seen those horrific pictures of celebrities leaving clinics with heads bowed and bright red faces. Perhaps you’ve had a bad

Is Your Skin Dehydrated?

Our skin can be just as affected by the change in seasons as our moods. As the nights draw in and the light levels change we often start to feel the need for more comforting foods and warmer meals. I know I certainly start to make more soups for lunch and hearty dishes in the evening - look out for a flurry of recipes coming to the blog shortly. Our skin starts to show signs of suffering at this time of year too. Living with central heating and air conditioning in the office, coupled with a commute in an air conditioned car or hot public transport, and the sudden change when we hit the cold